A driver accused of hitting a pedestrian in Lakewood and then driving off, surrendered himself to police Thursday, authorities said.
Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were called to Route 9 near First Street at 12:30 a.m. on June 16 and found the pedestrian, an unidentified man, suffering from serious injuries, according to a release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. He was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was in critical, but stable condition as of Thursday afternoon.
Police learned that a white four door sedan was traveling north on Route 9 when it hit the man who was trying to cross the highway in a marked crosswalk, the office said. The white sedan continued northbound on the highway and left the scene.
Multiple agencies investigated and determined the car was a 2021 Kia K5 that was allegedly being driven by Brian Huerta-Tochihuitl, 20, of Jackson, officials said.
Huerta-Tochihuitl turned himself in at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters and was charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident which resulted in serious bodily injury to another person, investigators said.
He was taken to the Ocean County Jail where he was being held ahead of his first court appearance, the office said.
Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.
Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
